Stretcher for pleated top draperies



March 29, 1966 c. G. SUICA STRETCHER FOR PLEATED TOP DRPERIES Filed April 2, 1955 INVENTOR. C4 T//Ee//V G. .Sa/cw,

United States Patent O 3,242,601 STRETCHER FOR PLEATED TOP DRAPERIES Catherine G. Suca, 221 Clark Ave., Burgettstown, Pa. Filed Apr. 2, 1965, Ser. No. 445,068 3 Claims. (Cl. 38--102.4)

This invention relates to a stretcher .for drying pleated top draperies.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a simple and eliicient device of the kind indicated, which, while stretching a drape both vertically and horizontally, for drying of the drape after washing, assures that the original pleats and folds of the drape are accurately and fully retained in the dried drape.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front perspective view of a device of the invention, showing a single drape in place thereon;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged and contracted horizontal section taken on the line 2 2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 4 4 of FIGURE l.

Referring in detail to the drawings, a generally conventional curtain stretching frame F is shown, which comprises vertical end members 10, and an intermediate vertical member 12, spaced between the end members, and adapted to normally rest upon a surface, such as a oor, on which the frame is propped by means of angled props 14, secured to the upper parts of the end members 10. A horizontal upper frame member 16 extends across and is suitably secured to the members and 12, at their upper ends. The upper horizontal frame member 16 is provided, along its lower part, with equally spaced, upwardly and forwardly angled pins 18, on which the upper end of a pleated top drape D is impaled.

Such a frame F normally includes a lower horizontal member (not shown) which is spaced downwardly, at the appropriate adjusted distance, from the upper horizontal member 16, to which the lower end of a drape is adapted to be secured. In accordance with the present invention, such lower horizontal member is replaced by a waved lower horizontal member 20.

The lower horizontal member 2t) comprises a strip of dat, relatively rigid material, such as non-corrosive metal or plastic, which extends the full width of the frame F. At its ends, the member 20 has straight end portions 22 which engage behind the frame end members 10. The end portions 22 terminate in forwardly extending, return bent hooks 24, having flanges 26, adapted to engage the outer edges of the members 10, and inwardly directed flanges 28, through which clamping thumb screws 30 are threaded, to bear against the front surfaces of the members 10, as shown in FIGURE 2, for holding the horizontal member 20 adjustably in place.

The straight end portions 22 of the member 20 extend for substantial distance, inwardly from the frame end members 10, as far as the adjacent sides of the near drape folds 32. The member 20, inwardly from and between the straight portions 22, is formed with a continuous series of similar and alternating arcuate waves 34, 36. The waves 34 extend forwardly and the waves 36 rearwardly, of the vertical plane in which the end portion 22 lie. The waves correspond in width and contour to the drap folds 32. Drape impaling, forwardly and downwardly angled pins 38 project from the waves 34, 36, and, relative to each of the convex waves 34 a middle pin 40 is located, at the apex of each wave Patented Mar. 29, 1966 34, positioned in vertical alignment with each pleat 42, at the upper end of lche drape D. Each concave wave 36 has a middle pin 44, which is vertically aligned with the valley of each drape fold.

The waved member 20 is secured, relative to the intermediate vertical frame member 12, by means of a clamp 48, which, as shown in FIGURE 4, is U-shaped and cornprises a cross member 50 which engages the front surface of the frame member 12, and rearwardly extending arms 52, which engage related side edges of the member 12 and have anges 54 which engage the rear surface of the member 12. An ear 56 on the clamp cross member 50 extends upwardly in front of a concave wave 36 of the member 20, and carries a clamping thumb screw 58 which bears against the front surface of this wave and clamps the same against the front surface of the frame member 12.

In use and operation, the pleated upper end of the drape D having been impaled on the upper frame cross member, and the lower end of the drape on the member 20, the member 20 is adjusted downwardly to `stretch the drape to the desired extent, and the drape permitted to dry on the frame F, so that both the drape pleats and the contours of the folds are accurately maintained in the dried drape.

It will be understood that the waved cross member 20 can be supplied as an accessory adapted to be installed on any standard curtain or drape drying frame, without alteration of the frame, other than removing or moving out of the way of the frames usual lower cross member.

Although there have been shown and described preferred forms of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily confined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of and in the .relative arrangement of components thereof are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A stretcher for a pleated drape having pleats at its upper end, folds centered with respect to the pleats and extending downwardly therefrom to the lower end of the drape and valleys formed between the folds, said stretcher comprising a frame having an upper horizontal cross member having lirst means for securing thereto the upper end of the drape, and a lower horizontal cross member having second means for securing the drape at the lower end thereof to the lower cross member, said lower cross member being formed with convex waves corresponding in contour to the folds of the drape and concave waves corresponding in contour to the valleys of the drape between adjacent folds of the drape, said first means comprising longitudinally spaced pins upon which the upper end of the drape is impaled, said second means comprising pins spaced along the waves.

2. A stretcher according to claim 1 wherein said second means comprises in addition middle pins located at the apices of the waves and in vertical alignment with the pleats of the drape.

3. A stretcher for a pleated drape having pleats at its upper end, folds centered with respect to the pleats and extending downwardly therefrom to the lower end of the drape and valleys formed between the folds, said stretcher comprising a frame having an upper horizontal cross member having first means for securing thereto the upper end of t-he drape, and a lower horizontal cross member having second means for securing the drape at the lower end thereof to the lower cross member, said lower cross member being formed with convex waves corresponding in contour to the folds of the drape and concave waves corresponding in contour to the valleys of the drape between adjacent folds of the drape, said 3 e lower cross member comprising a strip having straight References Cited by the Examiner end portions adapted to 'bear aginstihe frame, said UNITED ATENTS Waves being located between said straight end portions,

rst clamping means embracing the frame end members,

and second clamping means embracing the intermediate i* l frame member and a concave wave of the horizontal cross 10 JORDAN FRANKLIN P 'I 1mm y Examiner' member. Y PATRICK D. LAWSON, Examiner. 

1. A STRETCHER FOR A PLEATED DRAPE HAVING PLEATS AT ITS UPPER END, FOLDS CENTERED WITH RESPECT TO THE PLEATS AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM TO THE LOWER END OF THE DRAPE AND VALLEYS FORMED BETWEEN THE FOLDS, SAID STRETCHER COMPRISING A FRAME HAVING AN UPPER HORIZONTAL CROSS MEMBER HAVING FIRST MEANS FOR SECURING THERETO THE UPPER END OF THE DRAPE, AND A LOWER HORIZONTAL CROSS MEMBER HAVING SECOND MEANS FOR SECURING THE DRAPE AT THE LOWER END THEREOF TO THE LOWER CROSS MEMBER, SAID LOWER CROSS MEMBER BEING FORMED WITH CONVEX WAVES CORRESPONDING IN CONTOUR TO THE FOLDS OF THE DRAPE AND CONCAVE WAVES 